Translatable trailer hitch

Abstract

A Trailer hitch for towing a four wheeled vehicle. The hitch has a fixed in place portion attached to the towing vehicle and a translatable portion attached to the vehicle being towed. The translatable portion is spring biased to a center position. A damper is attached between the fixed portion and the translatable portion to prevent abrupt movement of the translatable portion. The hitch provides controlled lateral movement between the towing vehicle and the towed vehicle to diminish wear on the front end parts and tires of the towed vehicle.

What is claimed is:  
     
       1. An improved hitch for towing a vehicle which comprises; 
       a draw bar connection to a towing vehicle receiver;  
       an elongated channel secured to said draw bar transverse to said draw bar;  
       an elongated translatable member within said elongated channel;  
       end plates extending across opposite ends of said elongated channel;  
       coil springs between said end plates and said elongated translatable member to bias said elongated translatable member toward a central location in said elongated channel;  
       a plate member secured to said elongated translatable member an extending through a channel opening in said elongated channel; and  
       means for securing a hitch ball to said plate member.  
     
     
       2. The improved hitch according to claim  1 , further including a hydraulic damper connected between one end of said elongated channel and said plate member to damp movement of said elongated translatable member along said elongated channel. 
     
     
       3. The improved hitch according to claim  1  further including a closure means closing ends of said elongated channel and means for adjusting the positions of said end plates relative to said closure means so that tension in said coil springs may be adjusted. 
     
     
       4. The improved hitch according to claim  3  wherein said means for adjusting end plate position comprises a bolt extending through said closure means for rotation relative to said closure means without axial movement and threaded into a hole in said end plate whereby rotation of said bolt will cause axial movement of said end plate relative to said closure means. 
     
     
       5. The improved hitch according to claim  1  further including pins extending across ends of said elongated translatable member for engaging said coil springs. 
     
     
       6. An improved hitch for towing a vehicle which comprises; 
       a draw bar connection to a towing vehicle receiver;  
       an elongated channel secured to said draw bar transverse to said draw bar;  
       an elongated translatable member within said elongated channel;  
       end plates extending across opposite ends of said elongated channel;  
       coil springs between said end plates and said elongated translatable member to bias said elongated translatable member toward a central location in said elongated channel;  
       a closure means closing ends of said elongated channel and means for adjusting the positions of said end plates relative to said closure means so that tension in said coil springs may be adjusted;  
       a plate member secured to said elongated translatable member an extending through a channel opening in said elongated channel;  
       means for securing a hitch ball to said plate member; and  
       a hydraulic damper connected between one end of said elongated channel and said plate member to damp movement of said elongated translatable member along said elongated channel.  
     
     
       7. The improved hitch according to claim  6  wherein said means for adjusting end plate position comprises a bolt extending through said closure means for rotation relative to said closure means without axial movement and threaded into a hole in said end plate whereby rotation of said bolt will cause axial movement of said end plate relative to said closure means. 
     
     
       8. The improved hitch according to claim  6  further including pins extending across ends of said elongated translatable member for engaging said coil springs.